Building structure

ABSTRACT

A building structure with a plurality of strut members forming a geometric configuration having a plurality of vertices. A joint member joins the strut members at each of the vertices and a plurality of panel members bridge the strut members. Each of the panels is connected at its edge to a strut member under springlike action providing frictional engagement with the strut member.

United States Patent [191 De Chicchis et al.

[ Feb. 5, 1974 1 BUILDING STRUCTURE [75] Inventors: Antoni De Chicchis;Barry C.

Fennell, Jr.; David M. Schwartz, all of Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: ARK-Environmental Research, Inc.,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 279,635

[52] US. Cl 52/648, 52/81, 287/54 A [51] Int. Cl E04h 12/10 [58] Fieldof Search 52/81, 648, 492, 496, 497,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,343,324 9/1967 Gordon52/81 111,453 l/1871 I-lirsh 287/125 1,444,491 2/1923 Baldwin 52/DIG. 10856,838 6/1907 Bell 287/54 2,662,744 12/1953 Leadbetterr. 52/4922,736,406 2/1956 Johnson 52/492 2,846,167 8/1958 Walsh 52/586 3,083,7934/1963 Broat 52/648 3,344,565 10/1967 Nye 52/81 3,660,952 5/1972 Wilson52/81 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,476,749 4/1967 France 287/54 A1,201,640 l/1960 France 798,604 10/1956 Great Britain ..52/497 PrimaryExaminerI-Ienry C. Sutherland Assistant Examinerl-lenry E. RaduazoAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim 57 ABSTRACT Abuilding structure with a plurality of strut members forming a geometricconfiguration having a plurality of vertices. A joint member joins thestrut members at each of the vertices and a plurality of panel members.

bridge the strut members. Each of the panels is connected at its edge toa strut member under spring-like action providing frictional engagementwith the strut member.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BUILDING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION AND PRIOR ART A number of existing truss networks employvarious geometric configurations. Many of them are bulky and cumbersomeand have a number of parts, such as nuts and bolts, which must bealigned for assemblage. In the present invention, a number of varyinggeometric configurations can be enclosed using sandwiched panel memberswith such materials as polyurethane foam sandwiched between plasticouter layers and held together at the strut members by plasticsemi-polygonal edges which engage the strut under friction with aspring-like action. Adjacent panels with similar interfaces can form aseam with the corresponding panel member and can be welded forming asealed outer skin.

The structure is useful for building any type of structure forsheltering humans, animals or other objects or the structure can be usedas a creative toy, in the building of small models to demonstratebuilding structures and other uses.

We provide a building structure comprising a plurality of strut membersforming a plurality of geometric configurations with a plurality ofvertices; means joining the strut members at the vertices; a pluralityof panel members bridging the strut members; and means joining the edgesof the panels to the strut members under spring-like action forfrictional engagement with the strut members. We preferably provide thatthe strut members have a polygonal cross section and that means joiningthe edges of the panels to the strut members comprises a semi-polygonalmember formed around a cylindrical strut with an angular extension fromthe semipolygonal member which is used to form a joint with an oppositecorresponding extension from FIG. 3 is a sectional view through a strutmember showing two adjacent panels.

Referring to the above figures, FIG. I shows a geometric configurationof the building structure comprising two tetrahedra alternating with twohalf octahedra. It is comprised of strut members which have a pluralityof vertices 12 with a polyhedral member shown in FIG. 2 generally as 14.Bridging each of the strut a semi-polygonal member adjoining an adjacentpanel I to the same strut member. The semi-polygonal member frictionallyengages the cylindrical strut, the panel member maintains the friction.We provide that the means joining the strut members at the verticescomprises a poly-hedral member having a plurality of holes; a threadedstud corresponding to each strut member is inserted into one of theholes in the polyhedral member; and a threaded plug engages eachthreaded stud, an opposite end of the threaded plug is threaded into anend of each strut member. We provide a building structure wherein thegeometric configurations includes a tetrahedral-octahedral matrix and anorthogonal matrix.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Otherdetails, objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentas the following description of the present preferred embodimentproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown a present preferredembodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a geometric configuration showing the building structure whichis composed of two tetrahedra alternating with two half octahedra;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the components of the verticesjoining the strut members;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing a panel bridging three struts; and

members 10 are panel members 16 which are formed by a sandwiched-typeconstruction with a stressed skin sandwiching a lower density core.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view for joining one of the strut members 10 tothe vertices 12. The strut members are polygonal in cross section and apolyhedral member 14 has a plurality of holes 18 to receive a studmember 20 which is threaded and is inserted into one of the holes 18.Threaded to the stud member 20 is a plug 22 which is also threaded andhas a greater outside diameter than the stud 20 but a smaller outsidediameter than the strut 10. The plug 22 threads into the strut member10. These threaded members have the advantage of adjusting the length ofthe struts 10 between vertices 12. The polyhedral member 14 also has theadvantage of giving the precise angulation of the various strut memberswith respect to each other. The type of angulation and the distancesbetween the center axis of each of the holes 18 depends upon the typeand size and the geometry required for the particular structure framedesired. The threaded members which include the stud 20 and the plug 22can be pre-inserted in the strut 10 and then those members adjustedindividually to place the desired tension or compression in the struts10 so that they are properly stressed with respect to each other.

FIG. 4 shows the type of assemblage and joint which is used to joinadjacent panel members about the struts 10 and provide an outer seal.FIG. 4 shows a top end view of a panel 26 and a top end view of anadjacent panel 28. These panels are comprised of a stressed skin 32 anda lower density core 30. The edge of the panels 26 and 28 havesemi-polygonal members 34 and 35 each having an extension 36 and 38angularly extending from them. The extensions abut each other at 40 andform a seam which can be welded and thereby providing a seal withsurfaces 42 and 44 of the panel members 28 and 26 respectively. Thesemi-polygonal members 34 and 35 as shown in FIG. 4 frictionally engagethe cylindrical struts I0 and extend the entire length of the panels 28and 26. It is understood that variations of this condition about thesemi-polygonal members 34 and 35 about the strut 10 can be angled sothat the adjacent panels can be at any angle with respect to each other.

We claim:

1. A space enclosing building structure comprising:

a. a plurality of strut members joined at a plurality of verticesforming a plurality of geometric configurations giving a space gridstructural frame;

b. means at each vertex joining the strut members at each vertex and formaking distance between the vertices adjustable which includes:

1. a polyhedral member having a plurality of holes;

2. a threaded stud corresponding to each strut member inserted into oneof the holes in the polyhedral member;

3. a threaded plug engaging each threaded stud, an opposite end of thethreaded plug threaded into an end of the strut member; and

responding extension from an adjacent panel edge. 2. A buildingstructure as recited in claim I wherein the geometric configurationsformed includes a tet rahedral-octahedral matrix and an orthogonalmatrix. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N 3.789.562Dated February 5, 1974 Inventofls) Antan j De Qhj ggbj 5 Harry Q,Ejgnnell Jr. and

David M. Schwartz i It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Under the heading "FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS", British Patent No.798,604", should read -758,604--.

Column 1, line 36, "semipolygonal" should read -semipolygonal--, line43, "'poly-hedral" should read -polyhedral--.

Column 2, Claim 1, line 64, "pol-yhedral" should read --polyhedral--.

Signed and sealed this lhth day of May 19714..

-(SEAL).

Attest:

" EDWARD I-I.FLETCTER,JR. C. MARSFALL DANN Abtesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents (169) U SCOM M-DC OOS'IG-PBO I 5' GOVERNIPITPRINTING OFUCE I I D-JI-SSI'

1. A space enclosing building structure comprising: a. a plurality ofstrut members joined at a plurality of vertices forming a plurality ofgeometric configurations giving a space grid structural frame; b. meansat each vertex joining the strut members at each vertex and for makingdistance between the vertices adjustable which includes:
 1. a polyhedralmember having a plurality of holes;
 2. a threaded stud corresponding toeach strut member inserted into one of the holes in the polyhedralmember;
 3. a threaded plug engaging each threaded stud, an opposite endof the threaded plug threaded into an end of the strut member; and c. aplurality of panel members bridging the strut members and stressed bythe frame, each panel having an edge which is semipolygonal in crosssection which engages the strut, the semipolygonal crOss section havingan extension which joins a corresponding extension from an adjacentpanel edge.
 2. a threaded stud corresponding to each strut memberinserted into one of the holes in the polyhedral member;
 2. A buildingstructure as recited in claim 1 wherein the geometric configurationsformed includes a tetrahedral-octahedral matrix and an orthogonalmatrix.
 3. a threaded plug engaging each threaded stud, an opposite endof the threaded plug threaded into an end of the strut member; and c. aplurality of panel members bridging the strut members and stressed bythe frame, each panel having an edge which is semi-polygonal in crosssection which engages the strut, the semi-polygonal crOss section havingan extension which joins a corresponding extension from an adjacentpanel edge.